When it hasn’t snowed in weeks, many skiers (myself included) avoid resorts like the plague. When in-bounds skiing consists of scraping down styrofoam ramps and bruising the knees on icy moguls, the backcountry holds the only soft snow that can be found. Sheltered north-facing slopes were promising, but all other aspects were covered in sun crust. We skied into Cardiff Fork with the intention of making laps on Montreal Hill. But the snow on the ridge between Cardiff and Upper Mill D South Fork was spectacular. So we figured, why go anywhere else? Even with the low snow-levels so...
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Backcountry skiing, mostly because of the need to skin uphill to the top of a mountain, is a great cardio workout. But you never see nutritional drink products geared specifically toward backcountry skiers. Image a Gatorade-style commercial of free-heelers ripping up the slopes, then hiking back up for another lap as they sweat neon green. Skiers simply get no love like football players (or even skateboarders) get from the big companies. But that’s just fine, because now we have our own sports drink. Iced Sports Drinks is a Salt Lake City based company committed to making a better, more...
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Skiers like to say, “even when the skiing’s bad, it’s good.” In the case of backcountry skiing in Utah during a low snow year, a little creativity and knowing where to go can yield nice results; such as soft snow weeks after the last major storm. Even if there isn’t a face-shot in sight, being with good friends in the Wasatch Mountains with a flask full of a Jagermeister knockoff is a recipe for fun times. To seek out the soft creamy stuff, we made two trips in two days to Mill D in Big Cottonwood Canyon. There, we...
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Forget about the Sundance Film Festival. Ditch the latte, grab an energy drink, and check out the X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival instead. For one week, there will be screenings of ski movies, surf movies, skateboard movies, mountain bike movies, snowboard movies, climbing movies, an avalanche education movie, and even a film about motocross. In essence, X-Dance is a celebration of what we all love to do; have fun outdoors. Movies screened will be of the typical variety from well known filmmakers like Teton Gravity Research, and Level 1. But the festival is also an opportunity to experience smaller,...
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Fashionable rain boots are great to look at but not always comfortable to wear.  Being a woman who needs good supportive, sturdy shoes, I don’t buy “cute” boots.  But I decided to roll the dice and try out the colorful new Kamik rain boot line, the Atrium Maude.  Good thing my past experiences with rain boots didn’t prevent me from getting these shoes.  The arch support was exactly what I needed to walk the dog in the slush.  I also wore the boots to a New Years Eve party with a black dress and leggings. The Atrium (rain boots...
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After backcountry skiing in Grizzly Gulch twice in the last week, the difference in snow conditions was stark. The lack of snow, coupled with both sunny and cloudy days, wreaked havoc on the quality of the snowpack. The first day was bluebird with fine, recrystalized powder that was days old. There were a few sun-crusted spots here and there, but mostly the turns were soft and buttery. One week later, despite a 6-inch snow day mid-week, Grizzly Gulch became a glaze of sun crust over all the south and west-facing slopes. What a difference a week makes, despite recent...
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“Swift. Silent. Deep,” a movie that chronicles the history of the legendary Jackson Hole Air Force, is touted by the filmmakers as “the first true historical documentation of hardcore ski culture in the United States.” After watching the movie on DVD, I decided that statement is as true as the sun rises in the east. A combination of historical footage and new interviews, “Swift. Silent. Deep.” explores the beginnings of the Jackson Hole Air Force (JHAF) as they evolve from a bunch of guys concerned only with jumping off cliffs, to an organization that changes the face of skiing...
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Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort has come up with a novel way to get people on the slopes and above the unhealthy air in the Salt Lake Valley.  This “Red Air” discount of $20 off tram and chairs lift tickets on any day issued as a red air quality alert in Salt Lake County means anyone can enjoy a day of skiing in fresh air for less money. Generally during winter inversions in northern Utah, cold, polluted air gets trapped in the valleys, while the mountains remain warm and sunny. Locals already know that those are good times to...
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The search for the perfect backcountry ski shell that breathes on the up but protects from the elements on the down can be a frustrating one. It’s a difficult task to find the balance between breathability and water resistance, so when a soft shell like the Patagonia Ascensionist Jacket comes along that does both and does it well, then it’s like discovering a $20 bill stuck in the sofa cushions. Score! The Patagonia Ascensionist Jacket is a minimalist soft shell meant for any sort of high-activity winter recreation. Unfortunately, I received the jacket in August, so the thought of...
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For moderate backcountry travelers, skiing the East Couloir of Kessler Peak can be  a character building experience. First there is the steep 3,000 foot climb up a massive avalanche path called Argenta that leads to the top of Kessler. Then the couloir awaits. The East Couloir is something one may not ski normally due to avalanche danger. But with an avalanche report’s rating at low to moderate, well, green means go. Argenta is a popular place for skiers when the snowpack is stable as it is very easy to access. There is a large pullout on the side of the road in...
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Fifteen states, including Utah, has declared January as “Learn a Snow Sport Month.”  As obesity becomes an increasing problem in the United States, the snow sports industry hopes to motivate people to be more active during winter months when getting outside is less appealing. As a result, Utah Governor Gary Herbert officially declared January as Learn a Snow Sport Month. This designation is intended to help promote a national effort to build an interest in snow sport activities like skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Extreme skier Glen Plake has been promoting Learn a Snow Sport hard the past...
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